Low profile fastener having a repositionable handle clip

ABSTRACT

A fastener having a head integral with an elongated shank projecting rigidly from the underside of the head. The shank has a threaded portion extending a predetermined length outwardly from the head, and which has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head. The head has a first set of receiving holes and a second set of receiving holes which are substantially similar to the first set and are offset from the first set of receiving holes. The fastener has a clip removably attached to the head by inserting end portions of the clip into one of the first or second sets of receiving holes in the head.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of, and incorporates byreference in its entirety, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/976,402,filed on Oct. 11, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to fasteners, and in particular,to fasteners with repositional clips for operating the fastener.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Screw-type fasteners are often used to removably attach onecomponent to another. Often, tools such as screwdrivers are notconveniently available, making it desirable to have a fastener that canbe installed and removed without such tools. Fasteners can be designedwith clips or rings that attach to the head of the fastener, therebyallowing an operator to grasp the clip or ring and rotate the fastenerto either screw or unscrew the fastener into the component. In somefasteners, when not needed for use, these clips or rings may be pivotedto a not-in-use position so that they do not interfere with the use ofthe component.

[0006] Frequently, the component in which the fastener is insertedcontains uneven surfaces proximate to the location where the fastener isreceived. In these situations, it is often the case that the clip willonly lay flat in the desired not-in-use position when it is in certainorientations. This presents a problem if the final orientation of thefastener does not place the clip in this preferred orientation. In thatcase, the clip can be obstructed by the non-flat surfaces such that theclip either will not rest flat against the component or will otherwisebe positioned in an undesirable orientation. Thus, there is a need for afastener in which the clip can be removed and repositioned to a new,more convenient orientation without the necessity of unscrewing orotherwise undoing the fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] One embodiment of the invention is directed to a fastenerincluding a head with a first pair of receiving holes and a second pairof receiving holes, wherein the receiving holes in the first pair have adiameter substantially the same as the diameter of the receiving holesin the second pair. The fastener further includes a shank projectingfrom the head, the shank comprising a threaded portion, wherein theshank has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the head. The fastenerfurther includes a clip, wherein one side of the clip comprises two endportions with an opening therebetween, the end portions positioned inthe first pair of receiving holes to pivotably attach the clip to thehead, wherein the two end portions can be removed from the first pair ofreceiving holes and removably inserted into the second pair of receivingholes to reposition the clip.

[0008] Another embodiment of the invention comprises a method ofchanging the orientation of a clip attached to a fastener withoutunscrewing the fastener, the method including attaching the clip to thefastener via a first pair of receiving holes in the fastener, removingthe clip from the first pair of receiving holes in the fastener if theclip undesirably contacts an obstruction when pivoting the clip andattaching the clip to the fastener via a second pair of receiving holesin the fastener wherein the second pair of receiving holes are offsetfrom the first pair of receiving holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] These and other objects and features of the invention will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claimstaken in conjunction with the following drawings, where like referencenumbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a fastener according to oneembodiment of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a clip used with the fastenerof FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the clip of FIG. 2 mounted onthe fastener of FIG. 1 in a first pair of receiving holes.

[0013]FIG. 4 is top cross-sectional view of the fastener of FIG. 1 takenalong line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 1illustrating the clip obstructing a surface.

[0015]FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 5Aillustrating the clip repositioned to a second pair of receiving holes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The following presents a detailed description of embodiments ofthe invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude ofdifferent ways as defined and covered by the claims. The invention ismore general than the embodiments that are explicitly described, and isnot limited by the specific embodiments but rather is defined by theappended claims.

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a fastener 10 having a generally cylindricalhead 12 integral with an elongated shank 14 projecting rigidly from theunderside of the head 12. In one embodiment, a top surface 13 of thehead 12 is flat and the head 12 is configured such that a side surface15 of the head 12 has dimensions so that when installed in a device, thehead 12 protrudes only a small distance from the device. In oneembodiment, the fastener 10 is manufactured from stainless steel, suchas 302 stainless steel, using methods well known in the art. However,one skilled in the art will appreciate that the fastener 10 can bemanufactured from other materials, such as aluminum, brass, or plastic.In one embodiment, the head 12 is cylindrical in shape, however othershapes, such as a box-shape, can be used.

[0018] In one embodiment, the shank 14 has a cylindrical spacer section16 which extends a predetermined length outwardly from the head 12, andwhich has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head 12. The shank14 also has a threaded portion 18 extending distally from thecylindrical spacer section 16. The shank 14 is of sufficient length topass through a portion of a component, such that a portion of thethreaded portion 18 extends through the component and is threaded into areceiving cavity in a device, thereby enabling the fastener 10 to securethe component to the device.

[0019] In one embodiment, the head 12 contains a first pair of receivingholes 20 a and 20 b (not shown) extending inwardly from substantiallyopposing locations in the side 15 thereof. The receiving holes 20 a, 20b are positioned in the head such that they are 180 degrees apart,thereby locating them opposite each other with reference to thecylindrical head 12. The receiving holes 20 a and 20 b can be connectedsuch that the holes pass through the entire diameter of the head 12.Alternately, the receiving holes 20 a and 20 b can each extend into thehead 12 a distance less than one half the diameter of the head 12 suchthat the holes are not connected.

[0020]FIG. 2 illustrates a clip 22 with an opening 24 in a bottom side26 of the clip 22. Preferably, end portions 28 a and 28 b of the clip 22are adjacent to the opening 24 and align in a substantially straightline. In one embodiment, the clip 22 is made of stainless steel, such as19 gage stainless steel wire, although one skilled in the art canappreciate that other thickness of wire and other materials can be used.

[0021]FIG. 3 illustrates that the clip 22 is attached to the head 12 ofthe fastener 10 by inserting the end portions 28 a and 28 b into thereceiving holes 20 a and 20 b respectively. The clip 22 is sufficientlyrigid to allow an operator to grasp the clip 22 and rotate the fastener10 about the longitudinal axis of the shank 14 to either thread orunthread the fastener 10 into a device without the need of additionaltools. The receiving holes 20 a and 20 b have a diameter larger than thediameter of the end portions 28 a and 28 b, such that the end portions28 a and 28 b are easily received into the holes 20 a and 20 b, allowingthe clip 22 to pivot with respect to the head 12. Thus, the clip 22 maypivot from an in-use position in which a plane substantiallyencompassing the clip 22 is approximately parallel with the longitudinalaxis of the shank 14, to a not-in-use position in which the planesubstantially encompassing the clip 22 is approximately perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the shank 14, such that the clip 22 can layflat against a surface of a component to which the fastener 10 isattached. The end portions 28 a and 28 b are also of sufficient lengththat when they are inserted into the holes 20 a and 20 b as describedabove, the clip 22 can slide from one side to the other if the clip 22engages an obstruction.

[0022] The clip 22 is made of a resilient material such that the endportions 28 a and 28 b can be pulled apart and removed from the one pairof receiving holes. When the pulling force is removed, the end portions28 a and 28 b are spring biased to return to an unbiased position suchthat the opening 24 between the end portions 28 a and 28 b has a lengthsmaller than the diameter of the head 12. Thus, the end portions 28 aand 28 b of the clip 22 are spring biased to remain in the receivingholes 20 a and 20 b, thereby securing the clip 22 to the head 12.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of the fastener 10. FIG. 4illustrates that the head 12 has a second pair of receiving holes 30 aand 30 b offset from the first set of receiving holes 20 a and 20 b. Thesecond pair of receiving holes 30 a and 30 b is substantially similar indiameter and vertical placement in the head 12 with respect to the firstpair of receiving holes 20 a and 20 b. In one embodiment, the secondpair of receiving holes 30 a and 30 b is offset between 70 and 90degrees from the first pair of receiving holes. However, one skilled inthe art will understand that various offset angles are contemplateddepending on the configuration of the uneven surfaces on the componentreceiving the fastener 10.

[0024]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate that the clip 22 can be physicallyremoved from the first pair of receiving holes 20 a and 20 b andreconnected to the head 12 using the second pair of receiving holes 30 aand 30 b if the clip 22 is obstructed by a non-flat surface on thedevice to which the fastener 10 is attached or is otherwise in anundesirable orientation. In FIG. 5 A, the clip 22 is obstructed by anuneven surface 32 on a component 34 when the clip 22 is attached to thefirst pair of receiving holes. In FIG. 5B, the clip has beenrepositioned to the second pair of receiving holes and can now bepivoted so that it can be folded flat against the component 34.

[0025] Providing fastener 10 with a clip 22 that can be repositioned bychanging the orientation of the clip 22 with respect to the fastenerhead 12 without having to unscrew the fastener 10 satisfies alongstanding need in the industry. In the embodiment illustrated above,the clip 22 can be repositioned to an unobstructed orientation so it canlie flat in a not-in-use position. This fastener provides theconvenience of a fastener that can be installed and removed withouttools and also a clip that can be positioned in a desired orientation toreduce the interference with the component in which the fastener isinstalled.

[0026] Specific parts, shapes, materials, functions and modules havebeen set forth, herein. However, a skilled technologist will realizethat there are many ways to fabricate the system of the presentinvention, and that there are many parts, components, modules orfunctions that may be substituted for those listed above. While theabove detailed description has shown, described, and pointed outfundamental novel features of the invention as applied to variousembodiments, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the componentsillustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fastener comprising: a head with a first pairof receiving holes and a second pair of receiving holes; a shank havinga diameter smaller than a diameter of the head and projecting from thehead, the shank comprising a threaded portion; and a one piece cliphaving first and second end portions, said clip being removably mountedon the head such that each of said first and second end portions isremovably retained within one of either the first pair of receivingholes or the second pair of receiving holes, wherein the clip isremovable only as a single unit and wherein the clip is rigidly mountedin the head, such that the fastener can be rotated about a longitudinalaxis of the shank by placing a rotating force on the clip, and whereinthe clip is configured such that when it encounters an obstruction whenbeing moved to a storage position, it is removable from said first orsecond pair of receiving holes and insertable in the other of said firstor second pair of receiving holes so as to avoid the obstacle when beingmoved to a storage position.
 2. The fastener of claim 1, wherein thefastener is adapted to be fitted through an orifice in a first componentand to be threaded into a second component in order to secure the firstcomponent to the second component.
 3. The fastener of claim 1, whereinthe clip is spring biased such that the first and second end portionscan be removed from the first pair of receiving holes and removablyinserted into the second pair of receiving holes to reposition the clipwith respect to the head.
 4. The fastener of claim 1, wherein the clipis pivotably mounted in the head.
 5. The fastener of claim 1, whereinthe first pair of receiving holes has a diameter substantially the sameas the diameter of the second pair of receiving holes.
 6. The fastenerof claim 1, wherein the second pair of receiving holes is offset betweenabout 70 and 90 degrees from the first set of receiving holes.
 7. Thefastener of claim 1, wherein the clip is mounted in the head such thatthe end portions rotate within the receiving holes so as to pivot theclip between an in-use position and a not-in-use position.
 8. A methodof changing the orientation of a clip attached to a head of a fastener,said clip having first and second end portions, the method comprising:attaching the clip to the fastener by inserting and retaining each ofthe first and second end portions within a first pair of receiving holesin the head of the fastener, said clip comprising a single, unitarypiece of material; removing the clip in a single unit from the firstpair of receiving holes in the head of the fastener when the clipcontacts an obstruction when said clip is being pivoted; and attachingthe clip to the fastener by inserting and retaining each of the firstand second end portions within a second pair of receiving holespositioned in the head of the fastener at a location which is offsetfrom the first pair of receiving holes.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the clip is attached to the head such that the end portionsrotate within the receiving holes so that the clip can pivot between anin-use position and a not-in-use position.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein removing the clip includes exerting a force sufficient toovercome a spring bias that urges the end portions to remain within thereceiving holes.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the clip is attachedto the head such that the fastener can be rotated about a longitudinalaxis of a shank of the fastener by placing a rotating force on the clip.12. A fastener comprising: means for attaching first and second endportions of a one piece clip to the fastener by inserting and retainingeach of the first and second end portions within a first pair ofreceiving holes in a head of the fastener; means for removing the clipin a single unit from the first pair of receiving holes in the head ofthe fastener when the clip contacts an obstruction when said clip isbeing pivoted; and means for attaching the first and second end portionsof the one piece clip to the fastener by inserting and retaining each ofthe first and second end portions within a second pair of receivingholes positioned in the head of the fastener at a location which isoffset from the first pair of receiving holes.
 13. The fastener of claim12, wherein the clip is spring biased such that the two end portions canbe removed from the first pair of receiving holes and removably insertedinto the second pair of receiving holes to reposition the clip withrespect to the head.
 14. The fastener of claim 12, wherein the clip ispivotably attached to the head.
 15. A fastener comprising: a head with afirst pair of receiving holes and a second pair of receiving holes,wherein the first pair of receiving holes have a diameter which issubstantially the same as the diameter of the receiving holes in thesecond pair, and wherein the first pair of receiving holes are offsetfrom the second pair of receiving holes; a shank projecting from thehead, the shank comprising a threaded portion, wherein the shank has adiameter smaller than a diameter of the head; a one piece clip, whereinone side of the clip comprises two end portions with an openingtherebetween, the end portions being removably positioned in the firstpair of receiving holes to pivotably attach the clip to the head,wherein the clip exhibits a spring bias to urge the end portions toremain positioned in the receiving holes, and wherein the end portionsare configured to rotate axially within the receiving holes to permitmovement of the clip from an operating position to a stored position;wherein the two end portions are configured to be removed from the firstpair of receiving holes in response to the clip contacting anobstruction while being moved toward the stored position, said endportions being removed by exerting a force sufficient to overcome thespring bias such that the clip is removed as a single unit and such thatthe two end portions can be removably inserted into the second pair ofreceiving holes, thereby repositioning the clip with respect to thehead.
 16. The fastener of claim 15, wherein the fastener is adapted tobe fitted through an orifice in a first component and to be threadedinto a second component in order to secure the first component to thesecond component.
 17. The fastener of claim 15, wherein the clip isrigidly mounted in the head, such that the fastener can be rotated abouta longitudinal axis of the shank by placing a rotating force on theclip.
 18. The fastener of claim 15, wherein the first pair of receivingholes is offset by about 70 to 90 degrees from the second pair ofreceiving holes.
 19. A fastener comprising: a head with a first pair ofreceiving holes and a second pair of receiving holes; and a one piececlip having first and second end portions, said clip being removablymounted on the head such that each of said first and second end portionsis removably retained within one of either the first pair of receivingholes or the second pair of receiving holes, wherein the clip isremovable only as a single unit.
 20. The fastener of claim 1, whereinthe fastener is adapted to be fitted through an orifice in a firstcomponent and to be threaded into a second component in order to securethe first component to the second component.
 21. A fastener comprising:a head with a first pair of receiving holes and a second pair ofreceiving holes, wherein the first pair of receiving holes have adiameter which is substantially the same as the diameter of thereceiving holes in the second pair, and wherein the first pair ofreceiving holes are offset from the second pair of receiving holes; anda one piece clip, wherein one side of the clip comprises two endportions with an opening therebetween, the end portions being removablypositioned in the first pair of receiving holes to pivotably attach theclip to the head, wherein the clip exhibits a spring bias to urge theend portions to remain positioned in the receiving holes, and whereinthe end portions are configured to rotate axially within the receivingholes to permit movement of the clip from an operating position to astored position; wherein the two end portions are configured to beremoved from the first pair of receiving holes in response to the clipcontacting an obstruction while being moved toward the stored position,said end portions being removed by exerting a force sufficient toovercome the spring bias such that the clip is removed as a single unitand such that the two end portions can be removably inserted into thesecond pair of receiving holes, thereby repositioning the clip withrespect to the head.
 22. The fastener of claim 15, wherein the fasteneris adapted to be fitted through an orifice in a first component and tobe threaded into a second component in order to secure the firstcomponent to the second component.
 23. A method of manufacturing afastener, the method comprising: providing a head with a first pair ofreceiving holes and a second pair of receiving holes; and providing aone piece clip having first and second end portions, said clipconfigured to be removably mounted on the head such that each of saidfirst and second end portions is removably retained within one of eitherthe first pair of receiving holes or the second pair of receiving holes,and wherein the clip is removable only as a single unit.
 24. The methodof claim 23, wherein the head comprises stainless steel, aluminum,brass, or plastic.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the one piececlip comprises stainless steel, aluminum, brass, or plastic.